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Back-to-School Physicals Best When Scheduled Early

NEWS RELEASE — May 2, 2008

BUFFALO, NY — Many children need a physical exam before heading back to school in the fall, whether for an upcoming sport or a simple shot. It should come as no surprise then that one of the busiest times of year at the doctor’s office is just before school starts.

“Scheduling physicals in spring or early summer can be beneficial for both kids and their parents,” says Katie Kolbert, MD, family medicine physician at Lifetime Health Medical Group.

When the office is not as busy, physicians can often spend more time with the child. Scheduling physicals early also benefits the family, giving them one less thing to do amidst a flurry of back-to-school activity. It also means the appointment won’t interfere with summer vacations.

Kolbert suggests that parents find out now what vaccines and/or tests their children need for the upcoming school year, and schedule an appointment early. Schools often provide parents with a form telling what vaccines are needed, but if not, the best thing to do is consult a family doctor, she says.

While it seems to be simple suggestion, Kolbert cites many reasons why annual physical exams for children are important. A yearly exam:

• May be the only doctor’s appointment a child has all year
• Gives physicians a chance to ask pre-teens and teens serious questions about peer pressure, sexual activity and drug use
• Keeps a child’s doctor aware of his or her development and progress over time
• Increases the likelihood children will get needed vaccines
• Provides an opportunity to discuss nutrition and exercise with children, in light of increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes in our nation’s youth

Both family medicine physicians and pediatricians can provide school physicals. These types of doctors are available at Lifetime’s Amherst, Hamburg, Mosher and West Seneca health centers. Call 716/205-WELL for more information.

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